Immigration newsletter 16 January 2008

workpermit.com has a new section with up-to-date information about the new points-based system coming into effect in the United Kingdom this year. We will be updating this section with new information and guidance on how the Tier system will work as details are released. The United Kingdom will begin implementing its new points-based immigration system in early 2008, beginning in March with the Tier 1 visa, which replaces the HSMP visa.

A European Parliament news release indicates that the number of working age people in Europe is expected to decrease, and the decline could begin soon after 2010. With a smaller percentage of people paying taxes for required public services, the EP is estimating that about 56 million workers from outside of Europe will be needed by 2050 to compensate for the shortfall.

To counter the generally negative impressions of immigrants by many Europeans, the EP is considering how to demonstrate the positive roles that immigrants play in European society. A report authored by the French MEP is due to be presented to the Parliament in February. It will call for the EU to develop a "clear and reasoned approach" in an effort to counteract negative perceptions of immigrants.

On January 14th, the United Kingdom implemented its new global system to check the fingerprints of all visa applicants against UK databases. The program is three months ahead of schedule and currently covers over 133 countries. Already, the government claims that nearly 500 cases of identity swapping have been spotted.

In promoting the accuracy of the system, the government said that about 10,000 visa applicants have been identified who were previously fingerprinted in the UK in connection with immigration cases or asylum applications. Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne, said that the new system "lets those we need contribute to Britain, as long as they speak English, pay tax and obey the law."

With the Vancouver Winter Olympics coming in 2010, Canada is expecting increased demand for foreign workers. About 100,000 will likely be needed in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta alone. In response, Canada's Human Resources and Social Development department will add 21 occupations to a trial program which fast-tracks employer applications to bring foreign workers into Canada in as little as five days.

The trial program comes under the nation's Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Called the Expedited Labour Market Opinion project, the trial program aims to speed up the Labour Market Opinion process. The Labour Market Opinion is a report that businesses must submit to Canadian immigration authorities about the likely impact of hiring the foreign national on the Canadian labor market.

A recent article written in an online publication highlights how communities in rural areas of the United States are benefitting from foreign investment derived from the nation's investor immigration scheme. Individuals pay up to $500,000 for the right to gain permanent residency by obtaining a U.S. EB-5 visa.

Since 2005, the EB-5 program has contributed $30 million towards a $90 million expansion of the South Dakota dairy industry alone. In light of that success, more states are expected to start taking advantage of the program. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department approves "regional centers" to coordinate foreign investment by immigrants. These centers focus on specific areas of the United States to promote economic growth by several methods.

Australia is now set to end the so-called "Pacific Solution," one of the promises made by recently-elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his campaign. The program was developed by the previous government to keep refugees and asylum seekers out of Australia while their applications were being considered, a process that could take several years in many cases.

Australia began by allowing a group of refugees from Sri Lanka to come in as the government prepares to begin talks with Nauru about closing its Offshore Processing Centre.

Australia is now set to end the so-called "Pacific Solution," one of the promises made by recently-elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his campaign. The program was developed by the previous government to keep refugees and asylum seekers out of Australia while their applications were being considered, a process that could take several years in many cases.

Australia began by allowing a group of refugees from Sri Lanka to come in as the government prepares to begin talks with Nauru about closing its Offshore Processing Centre.

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